Switch-rod.



Patented Mar. .7, 1911.

IHVENTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

cc, WASHINGTON, n. c.

T. OBRIEN.

SWITCH ROD.

1m; NORRIS PETERS APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1910. 86,307.

T. O'BRIEN.

SWITOH ROD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1910 Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHBBTS-SHEBT 2.

Maw

INVENTOR WITNESSES THOMAS OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-ROD.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 16, 1910.

Patented Mar.

Serial No. 592,622.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Switch-Rod, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a switch rod by means of which the points or tongue of a switch having two movable points or tongues, such as a cross-over switch, may be simultaneously moved in either direction and in which the rails of the two tracks controlled by such switch may be insulated, one from the other, notwithstanding the actuation of both points by one red.

It further consists of such a rod by which the insulation may be accomplished without dividing the rod.

It further consists of improved means for adjusting the point upon the rod to adjust the relative position of the point to the rail.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

F or the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown. in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at pres ent preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various inst-rumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved switch-rod, showing the connecting, insulating and adjusting means for the points to the rod in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 represents a sectional detail view of a part of such means. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a single switch provided with my improved switch-rod. Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of a switch provided with my improved rod and by which a train on either of two tracks may be guided to either of two corresponding tracks, not shown, or what may be termed a double cross-over.

Similar numerals and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings: 1 indicates the switch-rod which is formed with ears, 2, at its ends for connection with suitable throwing mechanism. Said rod has an insulating tube, 3, fitted upon it, and said tube is inclosed within a cylindrical metal sleeve, 4, formed with a reduced and shouldered end, 5, or rabbet, upon which fits an ear, 6, of a clip, 7, which is fastened. by a bolt, 8 and not 9, to the switcl1-point 10. Nuts, 11, fit

upon screwl'hreads, 12, cut into the rods at the ends of the insulating tube and sleeve, whereby said parts may be longitudinally adjusted and secured upon the rod. A. washer, 13, and an insulating washer, 1 1-, are interposed between the nuts and the ends of the insulating tube and sleeve. On a portion of the rod beneath the switch-point 15 which controls the other track of the switch, a tubular sleeve, 16, similar to the sleeve 4, is secured by means of nuts, 17, upon screwthreads, 18, in the rod, which nuts also adjustably secure the car 19 upon the rod 1, said ear depending from the clip 20, which latter is connected with said switch point 15. The sleeve, clip and nuts are all in metallic contact with the rod. The switch-rod with its sleeves is arranged beneath the rails,

A i of the track to be moved transversely to the latter, and the points are adjacent the rails in the manner usual in point-switches.

The switch illustrated in Fig. 3 is a switch suitable for a siding or a single cross-over, and the main track has a continuous rail, Zr, and a continuous rail, A, which diverges laterally at the switch to form one rail, B, of the switch or side track. The switch-point At, which forms a part of the main track operates against the inner side of the continuous rail A B, and the switch-point B, which forms a part of the switch or side track operates against the inner side of the continuous main track rail A. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the main track is open and the side track closed. By longitudinally shifting the rod, the switch-point B is brought to bear against the inner side of the continuous main track rail A, closing the main track and opening the siding, the main track switch-point A being simultaneously moved from the continuous side track rail AB, to open the latter. The rod thus operates as head-rod and pulling rod, combined. As the switch-point B is insulated from the switchrod, there can be no current for a signaloperating circuit, or other electric current carriechby a rail, crossing from one rail and across through the rod to the opposite switch-point.

In Fig. 4, is illustrated one end of a double cross-over to which my improved switch-rod is applied, that is a cross-over in which connection may be made from each track of a double track road to the other, thus requiring four continuous rails and four switchpoints. In this form of switch, one rod moves the four points, and the clips secured to one of each pair of cooperating points is insulated from the rod, while the other point of each pair needs not to be and is not insulated. Consequently, in this form of switch there is one insulated sleeve i and clip 7 to one point, 10, of two cooperating points, and one insulated sleeve 16 and clip 20 to one point, 15, of two cooperating points, or two insulated and two un-insulated point connections to the four switchpoints. The rails and switch points correspond to those illustrated in Fig. 3, being, as far as the illustrated portions of the same are concerned, substantially a duplication of the corresponding parts in the switch illustrated in Fig. The reference letters employed on Fig. 8 and in the description thereof are therefore employed in Fig. t, and the operation of the corresponding parts in said figure is the same as that of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

Heretofore, insulation against the carrying of an electric current from a rail to an opposite switch point in a two-point switch, has usually been accomplished by cutting the switch-rod to form a scarfed joint at a point between the rail and point, interposing insulating material in such joint, and securing the parts of the joint together. Such procedure has caused weakening of the rod, and the insulation has not always been satisfactory. here an electric circuit is carried along the rails of the track for the purpose of operating signals or other purposes, it is necessary to provide insulation between the rail and switch-point so as not to carry the current across the track and thereby divert the circuit, and my present invention provides for such insulation in a simple manner and without weakening the switch-rod.

By having the sleeves and clips longitudinally adjustable upon the rod, the switchpoint may be adjusted in its relation to the rail so as to be brought properly against the side of the same when the switch is thrown and to provide a proper opening between the point and the rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch-rod, means upon said rod and constructed to be secured to one switchpoint, means upon the rod and constructed to be secured to another switch-point, and insulating means between one of said securing means and the rod.

2. i1 switcn-rod, two clips secured upon said rod and constructed to be secured to the points of a two-point switch, and insulating means between one switch-point and the switch-rod.

3. A switch-rod, an insulating tube upon said rod, a sleeve upon said tube, a clip constructed to be secured to a switch-point and supported upon said sleeve, insulating washers upon the rod and bearing against the ends of the sleeve, fastening means upon the rod and bearing against said insulating washers, and means secured upon the rod and constructed to be secured to another switch-point.

4. A switch-rod, an insulating tube upon said r d, a sleeve upon said tube and formed with a rabbeted end, a clip constructed to be secured to a switch-point and having an eye fitted upon the rabbeted end of the sleeve, insulating washers upon the rod and bear ing against the ends of the tube and sleeve, and nuts threaded upon the rod and bearing against the insulating washers.

5. A switch-rod, a sleeve upon said rod and longitudinally movable upon the same, means for securing a switch point and movable upon the rod, and nuts threaded upon the rod at opposite ends of the sleeve to move and adjust the latter and the securing means upon the rod.

THOMAS OBPQIEN. Witnesses WM. Snonnn, C. D. MOVAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

